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Pope Francis Welcomes Iran’s President to the Vatican

Meeting between the pontiff and Hassan Rouhani highlights close ties between Vatican and Iran

Pope Francis and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani met at the Vatican on Tuesday. Mr. Rouhani is on the first state visit to Europe by an Iranian president in nearly two decades, eager to drum up foreign investment after agreeing to a deal limiting Iran's nuclear program. Photo: AP.

ROME—Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s campaign to reintroduce Tehran to the West took a step forward with a high-profile audience with Pope Francis that focused on human rights and Iran’s role in Middle East conflicts.

The meeting—the first between a pontiff and an Iranian leader since 1999—came Tuesday on the second day of a four-day visit by Mr. Rouhani to Italy and France that is meant to cement the country’s ties with the West. The trip is the first by the Iranian president since sanctions on Iran were loosened this...